It seems that every year there is more and more good music; perhaps even too much good music. Maybe it’s because the economics of music-making these days require a greater-than-ever focus on cut-through-the-clutter quality. Or maybe it’s because Spotify and other streaming sites allow us to sample a huge amount more than we did back in the days of having to pay for music. I don’t know the reason for it, but I’m not complaining. Well, one complaint: Narrowing down favorites is harder than ever! The following is my somewhat arbitrary (likely to change) ranking of my favorite 25 albums and favorite 25 songs of 2015. What were your favorites? Share them in the comments below as I'm sure I've missed all sorts of great albums and songs this year. I nearly missed this gem and late addition to my "best of the year" lists.
25 Favorite Albums
- Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell
- Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus, Beauty Will Save the World
- Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Multi-Love
- Sandra McCracken, Psalms
- Beach House, Depression Cherry
- Jamie xx, In Colour
- Belle & Sebastian, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance
- Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly
- The Brilliance, Brother
- Carly Rae Jepson, Emotion
- Lower Dens, Escape From Evil
- Lord Huron, Strange Trails
- Josh Garrels, Home
- Adele, 25
- Sara Groves, Floodplain
- The Tallest Man on Earth, Dark Bird is Home
- Joanna Newsom, Divers
- Joy Williams, Venus
- Panda Bear, Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper
- Low, Ones and Sixes
- Chvrches, Every Open Eye
- MisterWives, Our Own House
- The Innocence Mission, Hello I Feel the Same
- Deerhunter, Fading Frontier
- Tame Impala, Currents
25 Favorite Songs
- “Multi-Love,” Unknown Mortal Orchestra
- “Nobody’s Empire,” Belle & Sebastian
- “Eugene,” Sufjan Stevens
- “Repentance/Sama,” Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus
- “Hello,” Adele
- “WTF (Where They From),” Missy Elliott, Pharell
- “Every Age,” Jose Gonzalez
- “Gosh,” Jamie xx
- “How Much a Dollar Cost,” Kendrick Lamar
- “What a Good Woman Does,” Joy Williams
- “To Die in L.A.” Lower Dens
- “Anna,” Will Butler
- “FloriDada,” Animal Collective
- “Beyond Love,” Beach House
- “Heaven’s Knife,” Josh Garrels
- “All That,” Carly Rae Jepson
- “Seeds,” Moses Sumney
- “Can’t Keep Checking My Phone,” Unknown Mortal Orchestra
- “California Nights,” Best Coast
- “Little Nowhere Towns,” The Tallest Man on Earth
- “Our Own House,” MisterWives
- “Pedestrian at Best,” Courtney Barnett
- “Disciples,” Tame Impala
- “Hotline Bling,” Drake
- “Boys Latin,” Panda Bear
Listen to my unfinished Spotify playlist of these and 110+ more of the year’s best songs here.